Welcome to Out of the West, the third incarnation of my personal website. My first web site I started in college as part of a research project. The second site I designed was an actual personal web site. It was an extension of my college experience. It served as a spring board for creative projects, everything from art, to poetry, to dream analysis to self introspection. Though college comprises the best years of my life
(so far) it was also a dark time. I was pretty young, confused alot, exploring new frontiers, figuring out who I am as
a person, what I believe in and what directions I hope
to take in life. It was a good time, but there were a lot of up's and downs. I think my first web page is rather dark because it reflects that roller coasterish period of my life. Ive been wanting to do a new page for quite some time.
Ive since graduated from college and I have changed a lot in the past couple of years. For the first time in my life I feel like I have some solid directions and goals. I know that I will always be a person with changing interests, but its nice to finally feel like I am moving forward in life instead of just standing still. I also feel like I know who I am and lately I feel more and more like and adult. Due to these factors I felt a whole new web site would more reflect who I am now.
In the spring of 1999 I was offered a job with the
US Forest Service in Colorado. For the first time in
my life I left my home completely behind to start a new life outside the confines of the Pacific Northwest.
I left Washington and headed out into the West,
to the Rocky Mountains, to seek my destiny and see
part of my country. I worked that summer and again
during the summer of 2000 as an Archaeologist in
the federal service. I then pursued a job in the mid-west. Unfortunately, this did not work out, however living out West has continued to challenge me and thus make my experiences more
meaningful.
In the course of my adventures I have learned time and time again that life can be full of excitement and adventure, if
you allow it. I have gone to far flung corners
of Colorado, seen parts of Wyomming and explored
the canyons of Utah. Ive poked around the ruins
at Hovenweep and Mesa Verde. I watched as the
Winter Valley fire blew up and burned-over some
6000 acres in a single afternoon. Ive hiked over
the Continetal Divide, been through the mountains of Nevada, seen the beauty and corruption that is California and even lived in crack hotels in Missouri. Of course I am currently planning
more adventures.
Ive learned to live more spontaneously and free and
I enjoy it. I have enjoyed the West. It has been a
valuable experience to be out there. As I look towards
my future Ive been thinking a lot about my summers along the Continental Divide. My one regret is that Ive spent
large portions of the past couple years far from family and
friends - perhaps the two most important things in life.
This web site though I hope can bridge some of those gaps
and bring me a little closer to those whom I care about.
This web site is dedicated to sharing Adventures in the
American West.
Enjoy! -- 01.02.00